Resources

Writer’s Tools

Manuscript Formatting Templates
What should your book manuscript look like when you send it to an agent or editor?  How do you format a magazine article submission?  Download these PDF examples to find out!
1. Book Manuscript – Option 1
2. Book Manuscript – Option 2
3. Magazine Submission 

Online Classes  
Writer’s Digest – Legitimate instruction and critique by agents in your genre. Good opportunities, but wait for the right one in your niche. And don’t give them your work email address—they send 3-5 emails a day, many of which won’t relate to your genre
Writer’s Digest Multi-Week Classes
Writer’s Digest Short Tutorials
Writer’s Digest Webinars

The Loft Literary Center – Based in Minneapolis, MN; provides many online classes.

Regional Conferences & Classes
Billings: Big Sky Writing Workshops – Single-day and weekly evening classes

Missoula: 406 Writers Workshop – 6-week evening classes; private critiques

Seattle: Chuckanut Writers Conference – A weekend full of beginner to intermediate instruction; also provides 5-minute agent pitch sessions for a small fee.

Writing Mechanics & Guides
Appropriate Punctuation and Grammar When Writing Dialogue – Great resource submitted by a coaching client.

The Punctuation Guide – Even more about punctuation rules.

The Organized Writer – Charts, templates, and reference resources to help organize your writing process, from writer and coach, Annie Neugebauer.  Super helpful!

Simple Grammar and Punctuation Guide – Shares some of the most common errors in day-to-day writing and speaking.  Thanks to Ava and Isabella for this recommendation!

Truly Useful BLOGS About Writing
How to Plan, Write, and Develop a Book – Exactly as it sounds; search this BLOG for any challenge you run into while writing, from idea generation to literary technique. Mary Carroll Moore is one of Anika’s favorite writing instructors.

For the Love of Bringing Books to Life – Writing BLOG posted by book coach Lisa Tener.

Favorite Books about Book-Craft
Mary Carroll Moore; Your Book Starts Here
Robert Olen Butler; From Where You Dream

Author Advocate Tools
For Fans of “Don’t Say Anything to Anybody”
If you’ve enjoyed Anika’s coauthored World War II memoir, join the grassroots readership trying to get this book placed in independent bookstores, German American Societies, and university programs.  These downloadable tools will help you share the book with possible book buyers:

1. DSATA Synopsis (Spoiler alert! Full plot summary)
2. DSATA quarter-sheet Informational Postcard for retailers
3. DSATA Discussion Guide (for academic programs, book clubs, and historic societies)

Haven’t read “Don’t Say Anything?”  Take a peek on Amazon!